Instead of watching another "so-so" movie, give this one a try. There's not a lot of action (no car chases, etc.), but it is an intelligent movie with good acting, good writing, and a story you probably never heard. I am not a Renee Zellweger fan but as this is one of her earlier films, she is watchable. She is very good as a small town teacher/writer wanna be. Vincent D'Onofrio is great in the lead. It is hard to believe he is a New Yorker as he becomes this troubled Texan. You will probably cry at least once while watching it. The DVD was actually cut, leaving out some "not essential(?)" portions that would have made the movie better.

What can one say about such a little known gem of a film as this one? It is obviously a labor of love for all concerned. I was so surprised to find this film that I just had to see it ASAP. Anyone who is a fan of true love stories, or of the early days of the pulp fiction industry will be charmed to encounter this story of one of the greatest and most original talents in the history of popular literature: Bob Howard.Today his name has lost much of its original luster. It's easy to write him off as just another odd-ball who killed himself and good-riddance. But when you stop to realize that the creator of the Conan saga was at the time of his suicide the most famous writer of pulp fiction in the world, you begin to realize the importance of this story. If Howard had survived his grief over his mother's terminal illness, he would undoubtedly be ranked with names such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Stephen King by this time. After all, he did single-handedly create the entire Sword & Sorcery genre!H.P. Lovecraft realized the greatness of Howard's talent from the beginning, and became his mentor. He even tried to help him overcome his perverse attachment to his mother and keep him from the deep depression that eventually led to his demise. But he lived in Rhode Island, and could only write Bob letters. If Novalyne Price had not been away at LSU at just that time, she may have been the one to pull him through his darkest hour, and who knows what the consequences might be today? Of course all such speculation is at last futile, and I intend no blame or unkindness toward Novalyne Price Ellis. What happened, happened for a reason only God knows. But I find it fascinating to think about.As a true love story it is one of the most unusual and interesting you will ever encounter. D'Onofrio is masterful as usual in juggling all the complexities of Howard's personality. Zellweger is perfect as the ever-conflicted Novalyne, who never knows whether to love Bob, admire him, abhor him, fear him, or hate him.It is telling indeed that this was Price Ellis' first and only book, written when she was a retired English teacher at the age of 76! Although she insisted that she never really loved Bob Howard, she usually did it with tears in her eyes, as witnesses will tell you.

This movie is one of those rare movies when the character actually bothers me and turns me off from the movie. But I ended up watching it twice and the second time, I enjoyed it much more.Vincent D'Onofrio is an amazing actor, anyone that watches this movie can see this. His portrayal of Bob Howard is so abrasive and perfect, so convincing that I feel almost annoyed with his character.Novalyne Price and Bob Howard as a classic couple that is doomed from the start. Howard's big wig attitude pushed Novalyne to a submissive nature that finally gets to her.The two actors' performances and chemistry is astounding and you truly believe that they were in love. Speaking of love, this movie most certainly has THE best on screen kiss I have ever seen. Many other 'best' on screen kisses are overly dramatic and obviously thought out. The one kiss shared between Bob Howard and Novalyne Price is smooth, passionate and endearing.The story of their crash-and-burn romance is something that may be hard to swallow at first, but take a second look (much like confusing movies like Momento). The second time you may see it, you will start to see the charm and endearing nature that Bob Howard seem to show only to Novalyne. Just like the rest of the world, to see his good qualities we just have to look a little harder.

I originally purchased this film on DVD because I'm a fan of Vincent D'Onofrio. The only thing I knew about the story was from the short synopsis in the DVD listing. Little did I know that I was going to have the most profound film experience of my life. It's a heartbreakingly beautiful story told in such a vivid yet subtle way. The cinematography is gorgeous. The acting is brilliant. If this film had gotten the attention it truly deserves when it was made, there's no doubt in my mind that it would have taken Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture at the Academy Awards. I really wish I could have seen it on the big screen. Everyone should see this film.